Suspect who killed police officer, held Pennsylvania hospital staff hostage visited ICU the week before, authorities say

A gunman who held medical staff hostage before killing a police officer and wounding five others at a hospital in south-central Pennsylvania Saturday is believed to have visited the facility in the days leading up to the incident, authorities said.

A gunman who held medical staff hostage before killing a police officer and wounding five others at a hospital in south-central Pennsylvania Saturday is believed to have visited the facility in the days leading up to the incident, authorities said. The gunman, identified by officials as Diogenes Archangel-Ortiz, 49, was killed in a shootout with police, authorities said. “I can say at this time that Diogenes Archangel-Ortiz did appear to have contact previously in the week in the ICU for a medical purpose involving another individual,” York County District Attorney Tim Barker said at a Saturday news conference. Barker declined to provide more information on the individual, citing privacy concerns and the ongoing investigation. Though the motive for the attack at UPMC Memorial Hospital in the city of York remains unclear, Barker said the shooting appeared to be “targeted at the ICU.” “We do not have any further information provided this time, but obviously, if you are arriving at a hospital with a firearm and zip ties and immediately proceed to a specific area and engage in these actions that this was targeted,” Barker said. Shortly after Archangel-Ortiz arrived at the hospital, he held several staff members hostage –– holding one employee at gunpoint with her hands tied with zip ties as police breached the ICU and attempted to engage in a discussion with the gunman, police said.